At UN, global leaders step up fight against antimicrobial resistance

For the first time ever, world leaders have committed to taking a broad, coordinated approach to address the root causes of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that cause common and life-threatening infections across multiple sectors, especially human health, animal health and agriculture.

This was disclosed at a high-level meeting convened in Geneva Switzerland at 71st session of the UN General Assembly.

This is the fourth time a health issue has been taken up by the UN General Assembly after HIV, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Ebola.

Antimicrobial resistance happens when bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi develop resistance against medicines that were previously able to cure them.

Countries reaffirmed their commitment to develop national action plans on AMR, based on the "Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance" — the blueprint for tackling AMR developed in 2015 by WHO in coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Such plans are needed to understand the full scale of the problem and stop the misuse of antimicrobial medicines in human health, animal health and agriculture.

Leaders recognized the need for stronger systems to monitor drug-resistant infections and the volume of antimicrobials used in humans, animals, and crops, as well as increased international cooperation and funding.

They pledged to strengthen regulation of antimicrobials, improve knowledge and awareness, and promote best practices — as well as to foster innovative approaches using alternatives to antimicrobials and new technologies for diagnosis and vaccines.

According to President of the 71^st UN General Assembly, Peter Thomson, "Antimicrobial resistance threatens the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and requires a global response.

He said Member States have agreed upon a strong political declaration that provides a good basis for the international community to move forward. No one country, sector or organization can address this issue alone."

Director-General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, noted: "Antimicrobial resistance poses a fundamental threat to human health, development, and security. The commitments made today must now be translated into swift, effective, lifesaving actions across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors. We are running out of time."

As a result of AMR, diseases such as pneumonia, gonorrhoea, and post-operative infections, as well as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, all of which that are increasingly becoming untreatable.

Left unchecked, AMR is predicted to have significant social, health security, and economic repercussions that will seriously undermine the development of countries.

High levels of AMR already seen in the world today are the result of overuse and misuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials in humans, animals (including farmed fish), and crops, as well as the spread of residues of these medicines in soil, crops, and water. Within the broader context of AMR, resistance to antibiotics is considered the greatest and most urgent global risk requiring international and national attention.

Leaders at the UN meeting called on WHO, FAO and OIE, in collaboration with development banks such the World Bank and other relevant stakeholders, to coordinate their planning and actions and to report back to the UN General Assembly in September 2018.

Countries called for better use of existing, cost-effective tools for preventing infections in humans and animals. These include immunization, safe water and sanitation, good hygiene in hospitals, and animal husbandry. Putting in place systems to ensure more appropriate use of existing and new antibiotics is also essential.

They highlighted market failures, and called for new incentives for investment in research and development of new, effective and affordable medicines, rapid diagnostic tests, and other important therapies to replace those that are losing their power.